Foggy conditions on the Solent have led to the cancellation of a number cross-Solent sailings this morning (Bank Holiday Monday).
Red Funnel have cancelled the 07:15 Red Jet from West Cowes to Southampton due to reduced visibility, with the potential for further disruption.
Meanwhile, the 05:30 vehicle ferry sailing from East Cowes is listed as running over 180 minutes late – it has effectively been cancelled. Red Falcon is unable to enter Cowes Harbour due to the fog and is currently sat off Egypt Point, which will have a significant effect on this morning’s service.
The car ferry diverted away from the harbour, whilst en-route from Southampton, at 04:55 this morning. The 05:30 has not sailed and the 07:30 will be significantly delayed, possibly cancelled.
Wightlink have also been hit by the fog resulting in the cancellation of the 06:40 car ferry from Lymington and the 07:50 from Yarmouth.
The 07:40 from Lymington and the 08:50 from Yarmouth have now also been pulled.
A yellow weather warning for fog was issued by IW Met Service last night, as first reported by Island Echo.
UPDATE @ 08:35 – The 08:45 Red Jet sailing from Southampton to West Cowes has been cancelled as fog continues to cause issues for ferry operators.
Red Funnel are also advising that the 09:00 vehicle ferry from East Cowes is delayed by 90 minutes – although neither the Red Falcon or the Red Osprey have been able to dock on the Island yet. The 04:00 sailing from Southampton is still holding off near Egypt Point.
In Portsmouth, a 1-in-1-out system is said to have been implemented on the harbour entrance meaning Wightlink’s Fastcat service is experiencing delays between Ryde Pier Head and Portsmouth Harbour.
Hovertravel’s services are running to time.
UPDATE @ 08:50 – A yellow weather warning for fog has been extended into Tuesday morning. Read more here.
UPDATE @ 09:10 – The 09:15 West Cowes to Southampton Red Jet has been cancelled.
UPDATE @ 10:10 – Red Funnel’s vehicle ferry service is running with delays of at least 2 hours.
Hovertravel are now running with 15 minute delays.
UPDATE @ 12:45 – Red Funnel are operating with delays of 2 hours on their vehicle ferry service. The hi-speed Red Jet service is running with minimal delays.
Hovertravel are now operating to timetable, as are Wightlink.
When will the council realize we are being held to ransom by these pirates. We need to see if a fixed link is viable and then go from there. The busiest weekend of the year and this happens.
Also being held to ransome by outrageous cost of the fares, why should the fares go up during school holidays when people have to travel nothing but GREED
Being held to ransom by the fog? I don’t think the ferry companies wished for fog on a busy weekend, this is natural (warm air over cool seas etc etc) but if you do feel that the ferry companies are holding you ransom then do everyone a favour… save up your penny’s and purchase a one way ticket off the island, that way you won’t need to return to the ‘island’ (piece of land surrounded by water) and you can find something else to complain about like pirate train operators or airlines.
P.S don’t get the council involved, they can’t even operate a barge on chains over a 100 metre stretch of river.
With todays technolagy the ferries should be able to navigate into Cowes, they are useless
Numerous studies in to a fixed link have been undertaken over the years and despite much money spent on boozy lunches and fruitless meetings, they all came to the same conclusion – it isn’t economically viable and it isn’t wanted in the counties on the mainland, that would have to suffer the streams of cars and people in their town, going to and from the Island.
The cost is eye watering and any bridge would be closed in high winds, with any tunnel being closed the moment someone breaks down in it.
The island does not have the ability, the facility or the space to run any trains through a tunnel, so forget the idea of passenger transport other than cars or buses. No one would be permitted to walk over a bridge or through a tunnel. You would be sat in a tailback of traffic, miles long, whilst the islands already congested roads, slowly allowed traffic onto the island, at a slower rate than the ferries currently do.
No fixed link any time soon.
This is an island let’s keep it an island
You can’t do much about the weather it is what it is.
If you don’t like it move off
Well said, W.W!
Dear WW, your view will soon change when you’re unable to get to the bed side of a family member because the ferry companies have cancelled their sailings, or it’s winter and there are no sailings.at the time you need them. A fixed link will be available far a far greater amount of time in a year than the boats. When was the channel tunnel last closed by fog???
If they are being refused entry to Cowes harbour then what would you like them to do? Ignore instructions?
Fog?????!!!!!!
Thank god for radar…..oh
We have landed men on the moon, and returned them safely.
Sent machines to the furthest reaches of our universe, and still communicated with it.
Send people to the deepest parts of the ocean and returned…….
BUT we can’t dock a boat at some of the most watched, secure waters in the world……. well that’s great.
Have they ever cancelled a tunnel crossing due to weather conditions
Moon landing was faked!
Ferry navigating with Radar, no issue… non professional weekend sailor navigating (of some description) in the same river in dense fog…. big problem. And who would go to prison? Any professional navigator can navigate in zero viability but you should assess the risks… Is it worth putting people’s lifes at risk just to give you the morning off moaning?
Wow I wandered how long it would take
Wow wandered how long it would take for cancellation
Yes very predictable! It will never happen guys and for that and many people who really care about the island and the way of life here will be very thankful! If the mainland is such an attraction or priority those wanting a fixed link should move and stop this constant wishful thinking or winging!
Cheers, have a lovely day everyone!
It’s not that the ferry skippers are incapable, it’s the retards floating around in fog in bath tubs with mobile phones, waving their wads wearing just speedos bla bla bla
Saw a red jet leave Cowes sometime between half 8 and 9 when I was out with the dog. It was pretty foggy then.
It’s not fog it’s a Red Funnel smokescreen
If they didn’t run boats over they would be allowed into Cowes. But due to the reduced visibility Cowes harbour master won’t let them dock in visibility less than 50 metres
I am glad the captains of red funnel won’t take the boats out in fog after last time doomed if they do sail doomed if they don’t sail